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This car is listed
for sale at Bonhams as of December
5, 2010.
Bonhams information:
The property of a titled gentleman
1923 Bentley 3.0-Litre 'Blue Label'
Tourer
Registration no. SG 9351
Chassis no. 315
Engine no. 316
Estimate: £170,000 - 220,000
The 3-Litre model offered here left
Bentley's works in Oxgate Lane, Cricklewood
in 1923 originally fitted with the
rear wheel-braked long chassis and
four-seat open tourer coachwork by
Gurney Nutting. It was supplied new
via Rossleigh Ltd (Bentley agents)
of 32 Shandwich Place, Edinburgh and
was first registered on 7th July 1923.
The first registered owner was Mr
O T Dempster of 27 Octavia Terrace,
Greenock, Renfrewshire, who kept the
car until 1930, during which time
maintenance was carried out regularly
and front-wheel brakes fitted (on
25th September 1925). In 1930 ownership
of the car was transferred to Mr Walter
B Siddons of Queen Street Chambers,
68 Queen Street, Sheffield, who had
the car serviced and repaired until
at least 1932 according to Bentley
Drivers Club work sheets for the period
1923-1933.
Little is known of the car's subsequent
history, although it is understood
that from 1950 until circa 1964 it
belonged to Mr Geoffrey Smith-Lee,
a motor dealer in Holbrook, Sheffield.
The next documented owner is Mr P
M Cooper, whose ownership is registered
within the accompanying old-style
buff (duplicate) logbook dated November
1976. In 1993 ownership passed to
an experienced Worcestershire-based
engineer/engine specialist who rebuilt
the engine, reduced the long chassis
to short chassis dimensions and fitted
a new aluminium body. Indeed, over
his approximate ten-year ownership
the entire car was completely rebuilt
to the highest possible standard.
This process took from 1993 to 2000
to complete, since when many enthusiasts
have remarked that 'SG 9351' is the
nearest one could hope to get to a
'brand new' 3-Litre.
The Bentley was in its present mint
condition when the current titled
owner acquired the car on 12th February
2002, since when it has formed part
of his private collection. During
his ownership the car has been regularly
but gently used - never missing its
annual MoT and has always been
kept in a heated and dehumidified
motor house, while servicing has been
entrusted to one of the BDC's official
technical advisors.
'SG 9351' retains its original registration
number, engine, chassis (albeit shortened)
and 'B'-type gearbox, and is equipped
with period-correct wheels and tyres,
all of which commends this car to
the discerning Bentley enthusiast
and collector. Fully serviced in July
2010 and presented in effectively
'as new' condition throughout, 'SG
9351' is offered with road fund licence
to November 2011, MoT to 22nd August
2011, Swansea V5C document, the aforementioned
old-style buff logbook, various items
of BDC correspondence and assorted
photographs of the 1993-2000 rebuild/refurbishment.
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